Cashbox - April 16, 1983

THE MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM, BUFFALO, N.Y. — Since the album "Damn the Torpedoes," Tom Petty has been at the top of the rock heap. With the release of his single, "You Got Lucky," and his newest album, "Long After Dark," Petty shows no intention of returning quietly to his native Gainesville, Fla.

Opening with "One Story Town," Petty received a vivacious welcome from the crowd. In addition to doing many of his newer tracks, he mixed in more familiar material, improvising new lyrics. Among the spotlighted new songs were "Change of Heart," "Straight Into Darkness" and the requisite "You Got Lucky." Petty sang the first two verses of "The Waiting," which he introduced as his favorite song, without any accompaniment except for his own guitar, and played at a slower pace than normal until the band and crowd joined in. The show stopper proved to be "Breakdown," with a 10-minute introduction and overpowering light show.

Leaving the stage, Petty waited through a full 15 minutes of applause before finally reappearing. The applause became louder as he went into a cover of "Shout." Responding to demands for a second encore, Petty returned to close with "Even The Losers."

Opening for Petty was Nick Lowe with Paul Carrack, former member of Squeeze. Highlighting his new LP, "Abominable Showman," Lowe sang several cuts off the album, including the single, "Raging Eyes." In addition to new songs, Lowe touched on his more well known compositions, including "Cruel To Be Kind." Carrack contributions included the familiar "How Long Has This Been Going On?" from his days with Ace, and "I Need You."

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